Tom Fontana Movies
- 2007
While Norman Lloyd managed to avoid becoming a household name, over the course of a career in the arts that has spanned eight decades he's distinguished himself as an actor, director, writer and producer in film, television and the legitimate stage. In the 1930s, Lloyd acted in a number of ground-breaking theatrical productions alongside his friend John Garfield under the direction of Elia Kazan, and he later became a member of Orson Welles' Mercury Theater company. As a film actor, Lloyd has worked with such directors as Alfred Hitchcock, Charlie Chaplin and Martin Scorsese, and as a television producer his credits include Alfred Hitchcock Presents and an award-winning series of adaptation of great plays for public television. However, the show-business blacklist against leftist artists in the Fifties stalled Lloyd's career, and while he's always had the respect of his peers, for years he struggled to put his career back on track. Who Is Norman Lloyd? is a documentary by filmmaker Matthew Sussman which gives Lloyd and some of his illustrious colleagues the opportunity to answer the titular question while discussing his life and work; the film includes interviews with Ray Bradbury, Cameron Diaz, Arthur Hiller, Karl Malden, Pat Hitchcock and many others. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Norman Lloyd, Peggy Lloyd, (more)
- 2006
An "ensemble drama" along the lines of The O.C. -- but with characters who wore more clothes and stayed indoors more often -- the WB network's weekly, hour-long Bedford Diaries was set at fictional Bedford college, a liberal-arts establishment somewhere in Manhattan (the series was lensed on-location at Barnard College).The focus of the drama was "Sex and the Human Condition," a seminar presided over by Kinsey-like professor Jack Macklin. Heading the cast was onetime Gilmore Girls co-star Milo Ventimiglia as Richard Thorne III, a wealthy student and recovering alcoholic, who was rather sweet on straight-A student Sarah Gregory (Tiffany DuPont) -- who in turn was having an affair with one of the teachers. Owen Gregory (Penn Badgley), Sarah's brother, was dating the resident (and self-proclaimed) "nutcase," Natalie Dykstra (Corri English). Other enrollees included freshman Lee Rasmussen (Ernest Waddell), torn between his high-school sweetheart and classroom seductress Zoe Lopez (Victoria Cartagena); Macklin's assistant, Prof. Carla Bonatella (Audra McDonald); and Harold Harper (Peter Gerety), Bedford's dean. Originally slated to debut in February 2006, Bedford Diaries did not make its WB bow until March 29 of that year, due to its producers' trepidations over presenting such raw, uninhibited material in an era of heavy FCC fines (virtually all of the episodes dealt with a particularly lurid aspect of contemporary sexuality, albeit always stressing personal responsibility over the antiquated "if it feels good, do it" attitude). However, the series was telecast uncut in Canada, and was likewise uncensored on the WB's Internet web stream. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Explore the origins of one of the Bible's most crushing betrayals as Judas betrays the very man who seeks to free his people from the grip of the Romans. A lower-class wine-seller who resents the brutal treatment of his people by the occupying Romans, Judas Iscariot is ecstatic to learn that a Messiah named Jesus of Nazareth has begun preaching love and peace despite the risk of persecution. Though Jesus rejects physical violence in favor of channeling spiritual energy to solve problems, Judas' reliance on the old ways pits him at odds with the gentle prophet, and when authorities close in on Jesus and his disciples -- Jesus' grim fate on Earth is forever sealed with a kiss. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Johnathon Schaech, Jonathan Scarfe, (more)
- 2003
Hill (Harold Perrineau Jr.) is dead, but he's still our narrator, and he mentions that death has brought him into contact with a lot of familiar faces, including that of Jefferson Keane (Leon), who shares narrating duties for this episode. Em City is shaken up by Hill's death. McManus (Terry Kinney) finds a box in Hill's cell containing a manuscript, and, as instructed, he gives copies to both Said (Eamonn Walker) and Redding (Anthony Chisholm), but Redding is too distraught to read it, or to lead his people. Said tries to inspire him to help restore order, and to get his people off drugs, to honor Hill's memory. Prisoners in solitary get the opportunity to make their case to a review board. White (Michael Wright) doesn't stand a chance, but he gets sent to the infirmary after puking all on Howell (Kristin Rohde). Alvarez (Kirk Acevedo) gets to go back to Em City, after McManus forces him and Guerra (Otto Sanchez) to make peace. Rebadow (George Morfogen) is depressed about his grandson's death, but he gets a new job in the library, and immediately hits it off with Stella (Patti LuPone), the new librarian. Kirk (Sean Dugan) arrives on death row, claiming to be possessed by Satan, and accuses Father Mukada (B.D. Wong) of sexually harassing him. Suzanne (Betty Lynn Buckley) prepares to put on a production of Macbeth, starring Father Meehan (Malachy McCourt). O'Reilly (Dean Winters) coerces Shupe (Joel West) into testifying on Cyril's (Scott William Winters) behalf. Peter Schibetta (Eddie Malavarca) arranges to have an ancient curse put on O'Reilly. Beecher (Lee Tergesen) and his father (Edward Hermann) are working on Keller's (Christopher Meloni) appeal, but Winthrop (Andy Powers) has his own deadly plan to gain Schillinger's (J.K. Simmons) respect. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
- 2003
The late Shirley Bellinger (Kathryn Erbe) assists Hill (Harold Perrineau Jr.) with the narration. Mayor Wilson Lowen (Tom Atkins) is on trial for the 1963 murder of two black girls, and Governor Devlin's (Zeljko Ivanek) supportive comments have caused race riots. When Lowen is found guilty, Devlin decides to send him to Oz until things cool down. He warns Glynn (Ernie Hudson) to keep Lowen safe. In Oz, Beecher (Lee Tergesen) learns about his father's murder. When Lowen, who has a personal relationship with Schillinger (J.K. Simmons), chokes on some food, Beecher saves his life. In response, Schillinger vows not to interfere with Beecher's parole hearing, and Beecher is granted parole. Martinez (Carlos Leon) and Penders (John Lurie) come down with the same illness as White (Michael Wright). Nathan (Lauren Velez) tells Glynn that they've been exposed to toxins, and that Martinez needs to be hospitalized. Glynn refuses to transfer Martinez because he doesn't want the story getting out. Morales (David Zayas) is worried that Martinez will spill the beans about the assault on Brass (Blake Robbins). Rebadow (George Morfogen) develops feelings for Stella (Patti LuPone), while Busmalis (Tom Mardirosian) still refuses to see Norma. Kirk (Sean Dugan) continues plotting to destroy Mukada (B.D. Wong) as his conflict with fellow death row prisoner Hoyt (Evan Seinfeld) comes to a head. Said (Eamonn Walker) works to get Hill's memoirs published. When a telemarketing company sets up shop in Oz, Redding (Anthony Chisholm) decides to volunteer his crew in order to get them out of drug dealing. Alvarez (Kirk Acevedo), determined to go straight, begs his wife to visit him. O'Reilly (Dean Winters) turns to Pancamo (Chuck Zito) to deal with Schibetta (Eddie Malavarca), while Robson (R.E. Rodgers) is forced to turn to Cutler (Brendan Kelly) for protection from Pancamo. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
- 2003
The late Eugene Dobbins (Zuill Bailey) returns with his cello to "narrate" this episode. Beecher (Lee Tergesen), leaving Oz on parole, says goodbye to Keller (Christopher Meloni), promising to continue work on overturning his death sentence. Schillinger (J.K. Simmons) visits Lowen (Tom Atkins) in the infirmary, but is greeted with hostility. Yood (Tom Ligon) tells Beecher who killed his father. Lowen threatens to go public with everything he knows about Devlin(Zeljko Ivanek) if he's not released from Oz. Stella (Patti LuPone) tries to reach a troubled teen, Pablo Rosa (Michael Rivera). Rebadow (George Morfogen) sees Norma (Michelle Schumacher), who begs him to convince Busmalis (Tom Mardirosian) to see her. Cutler (Brendan Kelly) protects Robson (R.E. Rodgers), now his "prag," from Pancamo (Chuck Zito). With Redding (Anthony Chisholm) trying his hand at telemarketing, Glynn (Ernie Hudson) gives the kitchen back to the Sicilians. Guerra (Otto Sanchez) refuses to shank Martinez (Carlos Leon), telling Morales (David Zayas) to do it himself. When Martinez dies, a distraught Nathan (Lauren Velez) tells Glynn she'll go public with the autopsy results, prompting him to hold a preemptive press conference. Brass (Blake Robbins) involves Murphy (Robert Clohessy) in his revenge on Morales. Hoyt (Evan Seinfeld) tells Mukada (B.D. Wong) he's had visions of Satan since he killed Kirk. Sister Pete (Rita Moreno) takes Jericho away from the increasingly volatile Cyril (Scott William Winters). Devlin arranges to have Cyril given electroshock treatments, so that he'll appear less impaired for his death penalty appeal. Redding has trouble convincing his crew that their future is in telemarketing. Said (Eamonn Walker) comes up with his own ambitious business plan to get Hill's memoirs published, and gets a visit from a mysterious reporter (Joel Grey). ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
Although Oz's longtime narrator, wheelchair-bound prison inmate Augustus Hill (Harold Perrineau Jr.), was killed at the end of the series' fifth season, he is still very much in attendance at the beginning of season six -- albeit from beyond the grave. Hill is, in fact, one of several ghostly prisoners, all of them victims of past tragedies occurring at the experimental "Emerald City" unit at Oswald Correction Facility, who show up to narrate the eight episodes in this, the series' final season on the air. Undaunted by previous failures and setbacks, unit manager Tim McManus (Terry Kinney) remains steadfast in his belief that the prisoners living within "Emerald City" can be rehabilitated if given freedom of movement, extra privileges, and a sense of responsibility and self-worth. Unfortunately, he may not get the chance to carry out his reforms this season, inasmuch as several prisoners have become violently ill due to faulty building substances used to renovate the unit. In another disturbing development, Emerald City's most famous "resident," charismatic Muslim leader Said (Eamonn Walker), is murdered. On a more satisfying note, the ruthlessly ambitious Governor Devlin (Zeljko Ivanek), who for six years has opposed the efforts by McManus and Warden Glynn (Ernie Hudson) to improve prison conditions, may finally be called to account for all of his crooked and underhanded dealings in the past. Oz's climactic episode, running 100 minutes, not only serves up just desserts for Devlin, but also charts the ultimate destinies of two other long-term series regulars, convicts Miguel Alvarez (Kirk Acevedo) and Tobias Beecher (Lee Tergesen). "There's no place like home." ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ernie Hudson, Terry Kinney, (more)
Previously fired from his job as manager of "Emerald City," the experimental unit set up at Oswald Correctional Facility, Tim McManus (Terry Kinney) has been reinstated by the time Oz's fifth season gets under way. The season begins with an accounting of the damage caused by the gas explosion at the end of season four. Not long afterward, "Emerald City" has new facilities, and a whole new crop of inmates -- all from solitary, having been relocated due to ventilation problems. In another development, a bus accident kills the relatives of several Emerald City inmates; among those devastated by the loss is wheelchair-bound Augustus Hill (Harold Perrineau Jr.), who makes a dangerous choice when he tries to console himself. Elsewhere, convict Miguel Alvarez (Kirk Acevedo) puts his life on the line to reassert his control over the prisoners; inmate Rebadow (George Morfogen) is cheated out of a two-million-dollar lottery prize; and the prisoners put on a variety show. Season five ends with an overabundance of cliffhanger situations involving (among other things) a comatose convict and a capital murder conviction. There is also a devastating loss at season's end -- even more devastating than the one incurred at the outset of the season. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ernie Hudson, Terry Kinney, (more)
- 2001
The press secretary to the president of the United States has the tricky job of acting as a middle ground between the journalists who want information from and about the president and the leader who would generally prefer to tell them only what he wants them to know -- and would like them to report. Joe Lockhart held the position of press secretary during the final leg of Bill Clinton's administration, and The Press Secretary is a documentary that offers an inside look at Lockhart's balancing act between the press and the president as he prepares the final press conference of Clinton's term, which coincides with a visit by Atal Behari Vajpayee, the prime minister of India. Barry Levinson served as executive producer for The Press Secretary. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Joe Lockhart, Helen A. Thomas, (more)
- 2000
Some six months after the cancellation of the popular, hard-hitting TV cop series Homicide, most of the cast members were reunited for a two-hour TV movie, which deftly (and somewhat surprisingly) combines stark, raw realism with Sartre-esque flights of fantasy. Several members past and present of the Baltimore Police Department's homicide squad are brought back together when their former skipper and current mayoral candidate, Al "G" Giardelli (Yaphet Kotto), is gunned down by a would-be assassin. As former partners Frank Pembleton (Andre Braugher) and Tim Bayliss (Kyle Secor) conduct their own personal search for the perpetrator, the comatose "G" discovers that not all police review boards are conducted by the living. Like its weekly predecessor, Homicide: The Movie was co-produced by Baltimore native Barry Levinson. The film made its first NBC network TV appearance on February 13, 2000. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Daniel Baldwin, Ned Beatty, (more)
As season four of Oz begins, the experimental unit at Oswald State Correctional Facility known as "Emerald City" is not living up to manager Tim McManus' (Terry Kinney) hopes. Ever since he set up the unit, wherein convicts are given more freedom of movement, extra privileges, and the opportunity for advancement, McManus has been frustrated that his good intentions have not paid off in wholesale rehabilitation. In fact, things seem to have gotten worse, with too many murders and suicides occurring within the unit. Hoping to alleviate the situation, McManus' head guard, Murphy (Robert Clohessy), suggests that all the cons -- including those in solitary -- spend an hour each day indulging in healthy recreation. Again, however, the plan fails when a killing takes place during that special hour. With more episodes this season than in previous years (16, compared to the usual eight), Oz is able to devote extra time to a plethora of subplots. One of these involves convicted murderer Shirley Bellinger (Kathryn Erbe), who after losing her unborn baby under suspicious circumstances is sent back to death row. Also, a group of illegal aliens sequestered in Emerald City is the catalyst for a rash of violence; Warden Glynn (Ernie Hudson) runs for lieutenant governor; an attempt to film a documentary in Oz ends in disaster; Busmalis (aka "The Mole") (Tom Mardirosian), manages to break out of prison, only to be recaptured as he stands outside the home of his favorite TV star; crooked evangelist Rev. Cloutier (Luke Perry) is tossed into the unit; and infirmary doctor Gloria Nathan (Lauren Velez) is raped. Tensions continue to mount as McManus is fired and convict Miguel Alvarez (Kirk Acevedo) escapes (these plot twists were designed to allow Acevedo and his co-star Terry Kinney to take leaves of absence to appear in other projects); new unit manager Martin Querns (Reg E. Cathey) cuts a sinister deal with drug-dealing con Adebisi (Adewale Akinnouye-Agbaje) to put a lid on the violence; fired guard Clayton Hughes (Seth Gilliam) tries to assassinate Governor Devlin (Zeljko Ivanek); a plot is hatched to frame wheelchair-bound convict Hill (Harold Perrineau Jr.) for a crime he hasn't committed; the children of inmate Beecher (Lee Tergesen) are placed in jeopardy thanks to orders from the "inside"; and incarcerated Muslim leader Said (Eamonn Walker) settles accounts with an old enemy. The season ends with a cliffhanger, sparked -- literally -- by a deadly gas explosion. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ernie Hudson, Terry Kinney, (more)
- 1999
Ron Eldard guest stars as Emmett Carey, who takes his two children hostage, barricades himself in his sister-in-law's apartment, and threatens to blow up the place if the cops try to remove him. As the day wears on, Mike Giardello (Giancarlo Esposito) and Stuart Gharty (Peter Gerety) are able to gain Carey's confidence, and hope to use this advantage to talk him out of doing something he'll regret. But all bets are off when Carey's ex-wife manages to break through the police barricade -- and is shot dead for her troubles. This devastatingly dramatic episode was originally scheduled to air on April 30, 1999. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Giancarlo Esposito, Peter Gerety, (more)
- 1999
A man is found murdered -- with his nose removed -- in his own backyard. To solves this case, Mike Giardello (Giancarlo Esposito) plumbs the depths of the Federal Witness Protection program, only to conclude that his FBI bosses aren't being up-front with him. Elsewhere, a bartender at a strip club is killed, the medical examiners "misplace" the identity of a corpse, and Gharty's (Peter Gerety) drinking increases. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Belzer, Giancarlo Esposito, (more)
- 1999
While investigating the beating death of a Buddhist monk, Lewis (Clark Johnson) worries that his born-again-Buddhist partner, Bayliss (Kyle Secor), will not be able to remain objective -- thus Lewis teams with the prickly Munch (Richard Belzer). In another case, a street shooting investigated by Gharty (Peter Gerety) and Ballard (Callie Throne) is complicated by three wildly contradictory "eyewitness" recollections. And on a personal note, Ballard comes to a crossroads in her relationship with Falsone (Jon Seda). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Belzer, Giancarlo Esposito, (more)
Idealistic, "New Age" unit manager Tim McManus (Terry Kinney) persists in trying to mold "Emerald City" (aka Cell Block 5 of Oswald State Correctional Facility -- formerly Oswald Maximum Security Penitentiary) into a model "prison within a prison" as Oz begins its third season. Part of McManus' pie-in-the-sky plan includes the hiring of his old friend Sean Murphy (Robert Clohessy) as a guard. Alas, Murphy's efforts to redirect the convicts' energies and hostilities into good, clean athletics are compromised when one inmate renders another inmate brain-dead in a boxing match. No one is more delighted at Tim McManus' frustration than the state's ambitious governor James Devlin (Zeljko Ivanek), who as part of his platform to strip the cons of all perks and privileges has ruthlessly slashed the prison's budget to the bone. In addition to Sean Murphy, Officer Claire Howell (Kristin Rhode) joins the guard unit, immediately making enemies of everyone within the sound of her voice. Not only does Howell force the cons into having sex with her to lighten up punishment duty, but she also ends up suing McManus for sexual harassment. Sensing the opportunity to establish themselves as top dogs at Emerald City block leaders, convicts Adebisi (Adewale Akinnouye-Agbaje) and Wangler (J.D. Williams) likewise gang up on McManus, taking their complaints to the press. Elsewhere, the death sentence of Shirley Bellinger (Kathryn Erbe) is commuted to life without parole when it turns out she is pregnant; Warden Glynn (Ernie Hudson) hires Off. Clayton Hughes (Seth Gilliam), the son of one of Oz's former guards, only to discover that Hughes is a psycho on a revenge kick; Beecher (Lee Tergesen) hatches an elaborate revenge scheme of his own; and charismatic Muslim leader Said (Eamonn Walker) is among those thrown into solitary after a bitter racial showdown. The season ends with a not-so-merry Christmas for all, and to all a bad night. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ernie Hudson, Terry Kinney, (more)
- 1999
Luke Ryland (Benjamin Busch), the demented "Internet killer" first seen on the previous episode "Homicide.com," is freed from prosecution on a technicality -- sending arresting officer Bayliss (Kyle Secor) off the deep end. Meanwhile, Giardello's (Yaphet Kotto) daughter Teresa (Audra McDonald) unexpectedly shows up in Baltimore to help her dad celebrate his promotion to captain -- and her brother Mike's (Giancarlo Esposito) long-overdue resignation from the FBI. Several last-minute revelations, apologies, and surprises occur in this, the 122nd and final episode of Homicide: Life on the Street -- which, in its terminal moments, neatly brings the entire series "full circle." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Belzer, Giancarlo Esposito, (more)
- 1998
Season seven of Homicide: Life on the Street begins not long after the Baltimore homicide unit's squad room has been renovated as a means of expunging all memory of the Mahoney shoot-out. Fully recovered from their wounds, detectives Tim Bayliss (Kyle Secor), Stuart Gharty (Peter Gerety), and Laura Ballard (Callie Thorne) are back on the job -- but Frank Pembleton and Tim Kellerman have resigned from the force and are gone forever (or at least Pembleton is). Among those expressing an interest in the department's newest detective, sexy ex-beauty queen Rene Sheppard (Michael Michele), is Meldrick Lewis (Clark Johnson), who has recently separated from his wife. The first case on the board concerns a series of slayings in Little Italy, including the murder of skipper Al Giardello's (Yaphet Kotto) cousin Mario. At the funeral for his cousin, Giardello endures an uncomfortable reunion with his son Mike (Giancarlo Esposito in his first series appearance), an Arizona-based FBI agent. It will, of course, not be the last time that the senior and junior Giardellos are brought together professionally. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Belzer, Giancarlo Esposito, (more)
- 1998
In the first episode of a two-part story, former homicide detective Mike Kellerman (Reed Diamond) returns to Baltimore. Now a private detective, Kellerman has been hired by a prominent family to prove that their daughter Debbie (Jena Malone) did not murder her newborn baby. It so happens that Falsone (Jon Seda) is working on this case, and he isn't comfortable with the apparent fact that Kellerman has sold his soul for a quick dollar. This episode was originally scheduled to air on December 4, 1998. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Belzer, Giancarlo Esposito, (more)
